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attrition
[ uh-trish-uhn ]
noun
- a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength:
Our club has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.
- a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment:
The enemy surrounded the town and conducted a war of attrition.
- a gradual reduction in workforce without firing or layoff of personnel, as when workers resign or retire and are not replaced.
- the act of rubbing against something; friction.
- a wearing down or away by friction; abrasion.
- Theology. imperfect contrition. contrition2
attrition
/ əˈtraɪtɪv; əˈtrɪʃən /
noun
- the act of wearing away or the state of being worn away, as by friction
- constant wearing down to weaken or destroy (often in the phrase war of attrition )
- Also callednatural wastage a decrease in the size of the workforce of an organization achieved by not replacing employees who retire or resign
- theol sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation, esp as contrasted with contrition, which arises purely from love of God
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Derived Forms
- attritive, adjective
- atˈtritional, adjective
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Other Words From
- at·tri·tion·al adjective
- at·tri·tive [uh, -, trahy, -tiv], adjective
- in·ter·at·tri·tion noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of attrition1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of attrition1
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Example Sentences
It is not a decisive war, with a single, signature victory, but a war of attrition.
But there is no consensus about what the attrition of ISIS looks like.
The past two months have been a war of attrition between the Hong Kong government and pro-democracy protestors.
Sen. Rand Paul has called for the “attrition if not an outright elimination of the IRS.”
Following the attrition of heavy industry in the 1980s, the income gap across the United Kingdom has grown substantially.
River sand is frequently used, but is not so good as pit sand on account of the particles being rubbed smooth by attrition.
When arising from rough friction or attrition, they are more commonly called abrasions.
How charming, how delightful, how inspiring is the eloquence which is kindled by the attrition of gifted minds!
Anti-attrition, an′ti-at-trish′on, n. anything which counteracts attrition or friction—also figuratively.
Neither of them had the slightest traces of gangue, or vein-matter, nor of attrition in being removed from the parent beds.
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